NFL
What punishment could the Chiefs face if they lied about Kadarius Toney having an injury?
The Chiefs wide receiver won’t feature against the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game but has cast doubt about the reason for his absence.
The Kansas City Chiefs are one match away from playing their fourth Super Bowl in five years, with the Baltimore Ravens all that’s standing in their way as they look to book their spot in the NFL post-season finale in Las Vegas on 11 February. The likes of Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes will be expected to star once again for the reigning champions, but Kadarius Toney won’t take to the field at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Why isn’t Toney playing for the Chiefs against the Ravens?
In Friday’s final injury report, the wide receiver was listed as “questionable” for the AFC Championship Game in Maryland because of a hip problem, although the injury description was changed on Saturday to “hip/personal” by the Chiefs, who revealed on Twitter/X Toney wouldn’t ultimately be playing.
The “personal” part was then explained by NFL Network correspondent James Palmer as being down to 25-year-old becoming a father for the first time to a baby girl late on Saturday. So far, it all make sense.
Toney says he’s “not hurt” in social media rant
However, on Toney then took to Instagram live on Sunday to reveal that he wasn’t, in fact, injured in what can only be described as a foul-mouthed rant about his current levels of fitness. The wide receiver hasn’t played for the Chiefs since 17 December, missing their last five games, allegedly because of the aforementioned hip injury, although he can be heard saying “I’m not hurt” in the middle of his expletive-ridden outburst (listen at your peril).
What sanctions could the NFL impose on the Chiefs?
Toney’s comments could get the Chiefs into trouble as the NFL takes injury reporting incredibly seriously. Officially, teams are required to be transparent when it comes to reporting fitness issues and can be punished if that is not the case.
Teams or coaches can be sanctioned, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin, who were fined $75,000 and $25,000 respectively for not accurately listing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in an injury report in 2019. Alternatively, offending teams could even lose a draft pick if they are found to be guilty.
Have the Chiefs covered their tracks in time and will they be let off the hook if Toney misses out due to “personal” reasons and isn’t legitimately injured? It remains to be seen, although one certainty is that he won’t be lining up alongside Kelce, Mahomes and Co in Baltimore.